School dances create a sense of community by helping learners connect outside of their classroom walls. Students have the opportunity to interact with pupils that they wouldn't normally, and in doing so, new friendships are fostered. Middle schoolers may be a little nervous at events such as these so we've put together a list of fun dance activities to help them break the ice! By incorporating a few of the fun games we've picked out below, your learners are guaranteed to enjoy a fabulous night of fun and dancing.
1. Dance With A Balloon
This fun game is sure to have everyone on the dance floor! Blow up a few balloons before throwing them into the crowd. The students are required to work together to keep all the balloons afloat, ensuring that they don't touch the ground.
Learn More: Mom Junction
2. Partner Up
As fun as middle school dances can be, learners may need a fun activity to encourage them to get onto the floor and mingle with new people. Places all the attendees' names into a hat and pull out two at random. The pairs should then be given time to prepare a creative dance to perform.
Learn More: Mom Junction
3. All Sacked Up
This game, traditionally used in physical education classes, is heaps of fun! Participating students should each receive a bag to dance inside. Students who fall out or drop their bags, lose. The last student dancing wins!
Learn More: Mom Junction
4. Ball Game
The ball game encourages everyone to have a little boogie. Students should line up and the first person in the queue will receive a large beach ball. A timer is set and the student is required to dance with the ball until the buzzer sounds and they pass it on to the next in line.
Learn More: Mom Junction
5. Emoji Dancing
Emojis are great fun, but who knew they could be incorporated into a dance activity? Students are required to come up with a dance that mimics an emoji so as to express that particular emotion or theme. To make it easier, choose a song that matches a given emoji. For example, if the emoji is happy, select an upbeat song.
Learn More: Gogogym
6. Follow The Song
Listen to the lyrics and follow the directions given by the singer! This activity is great for middle school-level learners and is guaranteed to get them moving. Turn it into a game by having teachers monitor the movements of learners and disqualify anyone who puts a foot out of place.
Learn More: Youtube
7. Memory Moves
Instruct the learners to arrange themselves in a circle. One student will start by moving into the center and performing a move. The person next to them will go next and must repeat the first move and then add on one of their own. The cycle continues around the circle until one player fails to repeat all previous moves.
Learn More: The Spruce
8. Musical Chairs
This classic dance contest is perfect for school dances! To begin, students should all be standing and dancing to the beat of the music. A teacher then pauses the song and students rush to find a seat. Students without a seat are out and as the rounds progress, more and more chairs are removed. The last person to sit on the final chair is the winner.
Learn More: The Spruce
9. Elimination Dance
Before the dance begins, write out random descriptions to place in a hat. Descriptions can be "students with glasses", "students wearing a black shirt" or anything of the sort. Whilst students are dancing, read out the descriptions- having anyone who fits them, leave the dance floor.
Learn More: The Spruce
10. Do The Macarena
The Macarena is a wonderful dance idea for students. Remember that one move in the dance corresponds to one beat in the song. Before starting, put on a demonstration so that students have an opportunity to learn the moves.
Learn More: Youtube
11. Dance Move Switch Up
This activity requires students to try their hand at different dance styles. As the music plays call out different dance styles for the students to impersonate. Styles can be anything from ballet and salsa to hip-hop and rock 'n roll.
Learn More: The Spruce
12. Square Dance
The square dance is an awesome introduction to line dancing. The fun video demonstration is easy to follow and guides students through exactly what is expected of them. Once you feel they have the hang of it, turn off the video and switch over to a country music song for them to practice their moves.
Learn More: Youtube
13. Spot Dance
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The spot dance is a fun elimination game. Whilst an adult mans the spotlight, learners shake it on the dance floor. The light should move throughout the crowd and when the music is paused, the light shiner should freeze too- stopping on one person. The person on who the light is shining is eliminated from the game.
Learn More: The Spruce
14. Dance The Conga
The conga is the perfect dance for getting the party started. It involves all learners in an enjoyable routine whereby they form a conga line by placing their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them.
Learn More: Youtube
15. Balance A Book
To prepare, ensure that you have a few lightweight books. Participating students are each to balance a book atop their head whilst dancing around. Players who have their book fall, are eliminated from the game.
Learn More: Mom Junction
16. Play Limbo
Two students are required to hold either end of a stick. Participating students should then move their bodies under the bar without bending forward or touching them with any body part. As the game progress, the stick should be moved further and further downward. Players who touch the bar, lose the game.
Learn More: NY Metro Parents
17. Chicken Dance
The chicken dance is great for including reluctant dancers! Even the most uncoordinated of students will have a ball participating in this activity. It simply requires students to watch the video and follow along- dancing like a chicken as they do so.
Learn More: Youtube
18. YMCA Dance
Just like the chicken dance, this YMCA dance video is sure to have your learners all moving and grooving! This song is a classic and will even motivate parent volunteers to get involved.
Learn More: Youtube
19. Musical Statues
Musical statues are played by pausing a song and having learners freeze at the same time. Anyone who doesn't freeze on time or moves in the paused interim is disqualified and must sit out.
Learn More: Childhood 101
20. Lip Sync Competition
Incorporate a lip sync battle into your middle school dance lineup. The activity tests learners' muscle memory and is a fun way of encouraging students to loosen up and enjoy themselves.
Learn More: Childhood 101
21. Dance Battle
Middle schoolers are naturally competitive and a fun way to channel that energy is through a fun dance battle! Randomly pair students up to battle it out seeing who can outdance the other! Teachers, parents, and other learners can join up to be judges.
Learn More: Childhood 101
22. Dance Charades
Dance charades are similar to the classic word-guessing game. Only with this version, participants are required to dance out their words instead of acting them out.
Learn More: E-How
23. Dance Island
Dance island requires that learners invent a fun dance routine, but are limited to performing it within the parameters of a relatively small square space. Teachers can monitor and eliminate students who step out of their block. The last person in their square or the one with the best dance wins!
Learn More: Ice Breaker Ideas
24. Air Guitar Competition
Air guitar requires participants to imitate the guitar portion of a given song or songs. The students can play this competitively so that the student with the best imitation, wins a prize!
Learn More: Childhood 101
25. Music Trivia
This is a wonderful game for students to group up and work together to answer the questions correctly. Not only will it foster team spirit, but it certainly helps students break the ice at the beginning of the dance before moving on to have a groove on the dance floor.
Learn More: Fun Trivia
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